The Prophecy

Chapter Nine

I sat in a chair in Arthurs office and waited, just then Loretta, Arthur, Marg, and Mikhail entered the room. “Thank you so much for allowing me to explain my theories child, you see when you were small there were some events that your parents witnessed that caused some concern. From what they told me you were displaying an affinity for magic greater than anything any of us had ever seen. But with your gift came some incredibly dangerous situations that scared your family enough to reach out for help. What we did was never meant to hurt you on the contrary we did it to keep you from hurting yourself or anyone else. I came to help Margret complete the ritual that will leave you fully unbound, but also…” He looked over at Arthur with concern. “There’s something else that the Wittens have brought to the Elders attention and I thought it best to speak with you in person as opposed to relaying a message or over the phone. Do you want to finish the unbinding or would you like to talk first I’ll let you decide, what ever makes you most comfortable and if you have any questions about any of this please don’t hesitate to ask I’m an open book and would be happy to help you in any way that I can during my time here.” With that he fell silent, expecting my response, I took a moment to think.

“I what you have to tell me upsetting?” I said, he looked completely unfazed. 

“In what way?” He said.

“Well lets put it this way Mikhail, when my powers manifested the day you began to reverse the spell you and my mother cast all those years ago something… happened…” before I could finish my thought out loud Marg jumped to her feet. 

“What happened?!? What do you mean?” She was sounded desperate and worried and I instantly felt ashamed because they had asked me not to do anything until they got back and look what happened.

“Well….” I slowly explained how emotional I had been after my accident with Waylon, how I tried to call forth my element and how things got out of control. When I was done everyone was silent, I thought they were mad until Elder Mikhail spoke in a hushed tone.

“So it’s true…” 

“What?” I said.

“Well, what I was going to speak to you about was nothing more than a theory but I think this changes things. You see Echo, the year you were born a prophecy came to the Elders under the Goddess moon. The prophecy foretold of a child, this child would be the first in over 1,000 years to control all four elements the first since our legendary coven founder Diana. The child would not only lead our coven one day but there was more, it was said that the child would be a girl and that when she came of age there would be a choice made, she would have the power to change the fate of magic for another 1,000 years to the light, to the dark, or ensure that balance remained for all until the next chosen came forth. Now remember premonitions and prophecies are not always clear and must be deciphered. We spent many years studying and decoding, but all of the elders including as myself agree that if this situation was as similar as we suspected, that your issues with the Witten brothers can be easily explained.”

Eyes wide I spoke so fast I almost jumped out of my seat, “How??!?!?!” 

He sighed and continued, “You see, in our world there is something called fated, two witches can be fated by the Goddess before they’re even born. It’s similar to being soul mates…”

I impatiently interrupted his thought, “Wait, but how does that explain this? Does soul mates mean one? Like one guy one girl, meant to be… this is 4.”

He chuckled, “Yes I was getting to that bit. You see the Goddess can chose to fate more than one person to another and that’s why there is such a thing as free will my child. In short we believe that you are fated to these brothers, and we also think they represent your three paths. One brother will bring the light, one the dark and one balance for us all.”

I was reeling, after a few seconds I said, “OK, let me get this straight. So I’m basically a mythical witch, so when I tried to call forth my dominant element that’s why all four came and things got crazy… And that’s not all, you’re saying that I have a soul mate and not just one but THREE and I have to pick one some freaking how and based off my choice I could LITERALLY EFFECT EVERY MAGICAL BEING UNDER THE GODDESS????” I laid my head in my hands and in a muffled voice said, “Just another day in the chronicles of Echo Delaney’s screwed up life. But this time I really must say I’ve out done myself I can’t really imagine anything MORE complicated or ridiculous.” 

Aunt Marg came to sit on one side of me Ms. Loretta on the other, they both wrapped their arms around me and whispered sweet encouragements meant to make me feel better but honestly there wasn’t much that could actually made me feel better right now. And then I had a thought.

“ok.” I said, “So who is going to break the news to the boys, cause it’s for sure not going to be me.” 

“I can explain to them just as I did you, if that’s ok with Margret and Arthur.” They both agreed. 

I stood up and said, “If it’s ok with everyone I’d like to not be here for this, I need some time to myself to collect my thoughts before I face them.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Elder Mikhail said, “And if it’s ok with you all I’d like to stay a few days, offer my expertise and maybe help get echo comfortable with her full range of powers before I head home with everything going on it would be my pleasure and honor to be of service to you and your family during this time.” 

“Of course we would be so grateful.” Said Arthur. 

I left the room, passing Callen, Waylon and Athen in the hall as I walked out the front door. I walked straight over the lawn and entered the orchard, I suddenly found my pace quickening until I was in a full on sprint. I finally came to a grinding halt, falling to my knees under one of the trees and burst into tears. I looked up at the sky and screamed, “Why me?!? What is so special about me? What did I do to deserve all of this?” How was I supposed to handle this alone? My parents were gone, I’m supposed to accept that I’m the strongest witch to be born in over ten generations, and oh ya I have to some how figure out which of these brothers is my true love and if I make the wrong choice I could doom all the magical creatures in the world to a future of darkness for another 1,000 years no pressure. I fell from my knees onto my back and looked up into the leaves, watching the sun peaking through and the wind swaying the branches. I closed my eyes and felt the damp grass on my back and arms. Next thing I knew I was being brought back to reality by the sound pf people yelling my name, my eyes shot open and it was dark. “What the hell?” I must have fallen asleep, that was strange I don’t even remember being tired. I got up and started walking towards the sound of my name being called into the night, as I walked I started to see lights flashing through the trees so I kept going. Callen came into view and he ran for me as soon as our eyes met, wrapping me into a tight embrace I again felt calm, serene, and I returned his hug. 

“Where the hell have you been!! He whispered into my hair.” He turned his head behind him and yelled, “GUYS I FOUND HER! SHE’S HERE SHE’S OK!!!!” He grabbed my hand and we started to walk back towards the house. We met everyone on the front porch and I got more than a stern talking to from Marg and Loretta, apparently I’d fallen asleep and I’d been gone about 7 hours, when I didn’t come back everyone panicked and started searching the property for me. 

“Goddamn it girl don’t you EVER do that again!!” Said my uncle, “You had all of us scared to death your Aunt was absolutely beside herself with worry!” He grabbed me and gave me a little too tight of a hug.

“I’m really sorry you guys, honestly I just needed time to think and get some air and I fell asleep. I wasn’t even tired I don’t know how I slept so long. I promise I won’t do it again I’m so sorry for scaring all of you.” 

“Well, I think it’s best you get on upstairs and rest, though I don’t know how much sleep you’ll get seeing as you’ve already been dreaming the day away but go try, we will finish release your powers tomorrow and start lessons with Mikhail.” Aunt Marg wrapped an arm around me in a half hug and ushered me through the front door. 

I climbed the stairs to my room still a little dazed and confused but I did as I was told. I showered and got into some leggings and an oversized T shirt I saved from my fathers things brushed out my hair and sat down on my bed. I spent a while confiding in Bianca and telling her everything that had happened that day, the prophecy, the fated situation with the boys and Mikhail offering to stay for a while to help me come into my powers and stay safe. 

“I don’t know why but I feel like I must tell you, please be careful around Mikhail.” Bianca said as I rubbed her head.

“What? What do you mean? He’s done nothing but help us.” I said confused by her warning.

“I can’t explain it. You and I are linked but there is something in my bones that is just telling me to be weary I can’t elaborate but just as a favor to me be on your guard.” She stretched and pounced from my bed and sauntered to my bedroom window, paused for a second turned back and said “you have visitors.” And she jumped.

“Visitors?” I said and looked around the room. “Weird ass cat.” And I rolled over and just then there was a knock on my door. I shot up, damn it Bianca. I walked across the room and before I reached my hand out to open the door I said, “Who is it?” No answer, oh hell.

I opened the door and in the hallway stood all three of the Witten brothers.